Okay, so I got this wild idea to try and remake a Patek Philippe watch. Not just any Patek, mind you. I went for the Gondolo 7042/100R-010. Yeah, that super fancy one, dripping in diamonds and all that. It is a crazy project, I know, but I was like, “Why not?”
First off, I started digging around for info on this Gondolo. This thing is seriously like a piece of jewelry. We are talking 18K rose gold case, a gold bracelet, and a dial that is just covered in diamonds. I mean, 251 diamonds, all set in this cool circular pattern, plus 12 more diamonds as hour markers. Even the crown has a little pearl on it. It is insane!
I gathered all the materials, well, not real diamonds, obviously. I got some similar-looking stones and some rose gold-colored metal to work with. Then, I started sketching out the design, trying to copy the original as closely as possible. It was tough, let me tell you.
I spent days, maybe weeks, just working on the case. I wanted to get that warm, rose gold look just right. After a lot of trial and error, I finally got something I was happy with. Then came the hard part – the dial. I tried to replicate that circular diamond pattern, and man, it was a pain. I was placing each tiny stone, one by one, trying to get that pattern right. And those hour markers? Do not even get me started. It was a mess, but I kept at it.
After what felt like forever, I finally had all the pieces ready. I assembled the watch, and honestly, I was pretty stoked with how it turned out. It is not an exact replica, of course, but it definitely has that Gondolo vibe. That rose gold color, the sparkly stones on the dial – it all came together pretty nicely, if I say so myself.
So, yeah, that is the story of how I tried to remake a Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100R-010. It was a fun project, even though it drove me nuts sometimes. Would I do it again? Maybe. But for now, I am pretty happy with my little homemade Gondolo.
- Materials Used:
- Rose gold-colored metal sheets
- Substitute stones for diamonds
- A small pearl-like bead for the crown
- Watch movement mechanism (salvaged from an old watch)
- Tools Employed:
- Precision tweezers
- Jeweler’s loupe
- Small metal file
- Adhesive for securing stones
Challenges Faced
Getting the circular pattern of the stones just right was incredibly tough. Each stone had to be placed perfectly to match the original design.
Matching the rose gold color of the original watch was a challenge. I had to experiment with different materials and finishes to get the right look.
Final Thoughts
All in all, this project was a great learning experience. It was definitely tough, but seeing the final product made it all worth it. It is not a perfect replica, but it is a pretty good homage to the original Gondolo 7042/100R-010.
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